Why the Saints Should Not Take a QB with a Top Five Pick
The New Orleans Saints find themselves in a familiar situation: evaluating whether to use a top-five draft pick on a quarterback when they already have an emerging option on the roster. Tyler Shough looked impressive in last week’s game, showing poise in the pocket, sound decision-making, and the ability to make plays under pressure. Even Spencer Rattler, the backup quarterback, flashed moments of potential before getting benched, suggesting that the Saints’ quarterback room is far from hopeless. With Shough set to get the starts for the rest of the season, it makes sense to let him continue developing and see how far he can go before mortgaging the future on a rookie. The potential upside of Shough, combined with his growing familiarity with the system, suggests that the Saints may already have their quarterback solution waiting to be fully realized.
Historically, teams using a top-five pick on a quarterback often do so when they have no other viable options, effectively “forcing” a pick on a position of uncertainty. The Saints, however, are not in that position; they have a quarterback in Shough who has already shown flashes of promise, particularly last week in Carolina. Investing a top-five pick in a quarterback while Shough continues to develop would be a high-risk move, especially when the team has so many other holes to address. The Saints’ roster still has major weaknesses on both sides of the ball, particularly in the defensive front seven and in key skill positions on offense. Utilizing the top pick to address one of these glaring gaps would provide immediate support for Shough and enhance the team’s overall competitiveness.
By giving Shough the keys to the offense, the Saints can focus on surrounding him with weapons rather than gambling on a rookie who may not be NFL-ready. Offensive additions such as a reliable wide receiver, tight end, or offensive lineman could maximize Shough’s potential and create a more balanced attack. Similarly, addressing defensive weaknesses through the draft could help the Saints avoid putting too much pressure on an unproven quarterback. With so many holes to fill, prioritizing supporting talent rather than another quarterback seems like the most logical path forward. In short, the Saints would benefit more from building around Shough than taking on the risk of a top-five quarterback pick this offseason.
Allowing Shough to continue his development also allows the Saints to evaluate him in a starting role without rushing into a high-stakes draft decision. Football history is full of teams that burned high picks on quarterbacks before giving their young starters a fair chance to succeed. Shough’s performance last week demonstrates that he has the tools to grow into a long-term starter if given consistent opportunities and proper support. By keeping faith in Shough and focusing on other roster needs with the top-five pick, the Saints can strengthen their team more strategically. This approach maximizes both short-term success and long-term development, giving the team the best chance to compete without gambling their future on unproven talent.
